LIBRARY, Of CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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VERSES FOR CHRISTMAS. 






BY 



is. MASSEY. 



WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY O. O. SOHENCK, 



PHI L A DELPH I A : 

J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 

1885. 




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Copyright, 1S84, by J. B. Lippincott & Co. 



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In Autumn when the bright leaves fall 

Do youths and maids make holiday, 

And gather many a choice nosegay 
To wreathe round hearth, and bower, and hall, 

Ami mind them of each past delight 

Ere Winter's touch hath wrought its blight ! 

I picked these stray leaves, blown 
es in Fancy's garden wide, 
jed them humbly side by side, 
trembling, sent them forth unknown ' 
kful only if they make 
X hour brighter for their sake 



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J\ Ournmcr lliriaiion. 




Day after day he was found at her side, 
Sitting or standing, in walk or in ride, 
lie- brought her candies, flowers, book-, 
"■k her rami ile~. to shady nooks ; 
trried her parasol, work, or chair- 
In short — where she was, he was thi 

The girls all envious, softly sighed : 

he is very far gone," they cried, 
ut the matrons whispered in confabu- 

ation, 
Mj dear, il is onlj .1 summer ilirta- 
tion !" 







At night in the moonlight, stretched at her feet, 

He would murmur of love and its mission sweet ; 

Would toy with her shawl or slyly press 

I lir hand in a timid, soft caress, 

Whilst she laughed aiul blushed behind her fan, 

And thought he was " such a lovely man." 

The girls looked on with a very ill grace, 

Ami wished themselves in their comrade's place. 

But the matrons nodded in consultation, 

" Depend on it — 'tis but a summer flirtation !" 



The summer ended, as all things must. 
Its glories faded and turned to dust. 
They bade farewell. He said : " In town 
We shall meet." He took her number down ; 
Gave books and (lowers. " Would she take 
And keep them always for his sake ?" 



The girls looked on, and deeply moved 
Cried : " See how constant he has proved I" 
But the matrons said : " This adoration 
Is the usual end to a summer flirtation." 



And so she found. In idling away 

The tedious hours of a summer's day, 

He had stolen her heart and (oh ! most sad !) 

The victor was not of his trophy glad ! 

He never came, though long she would wait, 

And her heart bound high at each " click" of the gate. 

The girls now peacefully watched afar 

And sniffed : " What bold things some girls are !" 

But the matrons cried in exultation : 

" Did not we tell you ? A summer flirtation I" 



And now, when falls the twilight dim 
In pensive mood, she thinks of him, 
As crowding round her thick and fu>t 
Come beauteous visions of the past. 
Su< h lovely visions, that but now 
Call up the warm blood tc her brow, 
And to her heart a new sensation. 
****** 

But to him— 'twas onlj " another flirtation." 




-' 



) 




paying T o11 ' 



Before a pump an urchin si 

A sturdy imp and brown ; 
And with a switch he scattering chased 

The chickens up and down. 
But ever now and then his glance 
Roved where the meadow's green expanse 

Spread to the road. 

For there a wee maid tripping came 

Her earthen bowl to fill 
With water from the friendly pump. 
She trembled, and stood still, 

As quick the brown imp wide 

outfiings 
His arms, whilst lustily he sings- 
"First, pay me toll !" 



The little maid holds coyly back, 
And then once more returns ; 

The water she must have, and so 
The rogue his guerdon earns ! 

Then looks she on in shy delight. 

Whilst pumps the buy with all his might, 
Till high the water churns. 




A maiden stands beside a fence 

Whence leads a wicket-gate ; 
(It is our same dear little maid, 

But grown more sedate.) 
And on the other side a youth — 

The same brown rogue we knew — 
Holds fast the struggling hand that tries 

The wicket to undo. 
" Come ! Not so fast," he cries, " my lass, 
But one small thing before you pass — 

First, pay me toll !" 



She stands before the altar-rails, 

Our blushing, happy maid ; 
And by her side the brown youth too, 

In wedding-togs arrayed. 
And as he lifts her veil he cries, 
Whilst love and mirth gleam in his eyes, 

" Sweet, pay me toll !" 



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OrjerdoWs. ?B| 






Morning shadows on the snow 
Softly come, brightly go ; 
Of men, with loud and lusty voice. 
Maidens, whose young hearts rejoice 
At the brightness all around. 
Children playing on the ground, 
With shrill whoop and shout of 
Careless they, — whate'v er be ' 

Thus the shadows on the snow 

Softly come, brightly go, 

Whilst the life streams onward flow, 
<~>nward flow ! 
II 



Noontide shadows on the snow 
Wearily come, sadly go ; 
Men, with faces pale and wan 
As the distant skies they scan ; 
Maidens, listless grown, oppressed, 
With head hanging low on breast; 
Children, tired from their play, 
Whimpering crossly by the way. 
Thus the shadows on the snow 
Wearily come, sadly go, 
As the life-streams onward flow, 
Onward flow ! 



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Midnight shadows on the snow 
Wildly come, madly go; 
I rom sin's redly-gleaming haunts 
A poor fluttering creature flaunts ; 

Kindred she to that fair girl 

i If dewy lip and golden curl ; 

a staggering drunkard reels, 

Vainly for support he feels ; 

Brother he to men that rise 

And front the world with level eyes. 

Children cursing, stealing, they 

Also kin to those at play. 

Thus the shadows on the snow 
Wildly come, madly go, 
As the life-streams onward flow, 
Onward flow ' 



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Il.uk ! the bells across the snow 
Merrily come, cheerily go; 
And they cry, "Oppressed and lonely, 
Conic, where pure life dwelleth only ; 

I e these shadows, never the; 
Enter the domain of day ! 
Men and women, young and old, 
Come, the Christ child's face behold. 

Once more on the earth He lies, 

Bathed in light that never dies; 

As the life streams outward flow, 
Outward flow !" 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



016 165 342 1 




